How Does Julie Bowen Stay in Shape?

There's no denying that Julie Bowen (Claire) has a crazy-toned (some might say overly toned) body. How does the 41-year-old mother of three boys under 5 keep so fit? Let's just say the the whole "mother of three boys under 5" may have a little something to do with it. Julie is always on the run after her sons — Oliver, 4, and 2-year-old twins John and Gus.

Credit:
Will Binns/Pacific Coast News
Photo: Julie Bowen on a Beach in Hawaii on March 11, 2010

But how does Julie find the energy to star as supermom Claire Dunphy on the hit TV show Modern Family AND be a hands-on real-life mom? "Running is the quickest endorphin hit I can get. I like to do it really early in the morning, before everyone gets up. It gives me a clear head and sort of resets the clock. It’s like, 'Okay, I got that out of the way. Now I can deal with people,'" she told Parade.

While training for a half-marathon last fall, Julie hit the pavement for daily 45-minute runs before 6 AM. The self-described tomboy says she feels more comfortable in running shoes than heels. "You can pick up a pair of sneakers anywhere and you're off," she told WebMD. "And 45 minutes later, you've had a great workout."

A little-known secret about Julie is that she has worn a pacemaker since her early 20s, when she was diagnosed with a cardiovascular condition that drops her heart rate to drastically low levels. Her pacemaker "serves as a monitor for me," she said.

Julie admits she used to feel self-conscious when she started out as a soap actress, surrounded by teeny tiny actresses. But she's more confident now. Well, at least she's trying to be. "There are days when I'm like, 'Hey, you look pretty good.' But I work with Sofia Vergara. You can have your very best day, and then you walk in and look at her and you go, 'Okay, now that’s just superhuman.'" she tells Parade. "I don't look bad, but I don't look like Sofia Vergara, and that's okay."